Colorado Daily – UMass

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[h=2]Colorado Daily – UMass[/h]–August 30thMinutemen hang with Boston College … for a half
Colorado’s next opponent, the University of Massachusetts Minutemen, hung with cross-town rival Boston College for a half, but the Eagles were able to pull away in the second half, posting a 30-7 victory.
The first half was a battle between the Minutemen defense and the Boston College offense. Boston College forged*a halftime lead of only 6-0, but completely dominated the game. In the first half, Boston College had four drives lasting ten plays or longer, but came away with only two field goals. The drive chart went like this for the Eagles:
- 10 plays, 51 yards, turnover on downs
- 10 plays, 71 yards, field goal
- 15 plays, 72 yards, field goal
- three plays, four yards, interception, and
- 10 plays, 43 yards, missed field goal
As you might imagine, with all of the long drives, the stats were very skewed. In the first half, UMass had only 69 total yards, with only seven of those by rushing.
Boston College took the second half kickoff and put together a thirteen-play drive, with this one resulting in a touchdown, giving BC a little breathing room at 13-0. UMass went three-and-out with its next possession (two incompletions and a seven yard sack – giving UMass exactly zero yards rushing early in the third quarter. Boston College then scored again (this time taking only*ten plays) to make it a seemingly insurmountable 20-0 game.
The Minutemen didn’t quit, though. Taking the ensuing kickoff, UMass scored on a 77-yard pass from Blake Frohnapfel to Tajae Sharpe (two names which will figure prominently in this week’s “T.I.P.S.”), more than doubling the Minutemen’s offensive output and making the score a more reasonable 20-7.
Wanting nothing to do with a competitive game, Boston College took only four plays to score again, adding a field goal later in the fourth quarter for a 30-7 finish.
UMass finished the game with only 202 yards of total offense, while giving up 511 yards to Boston College (338 on the ground). The Eagles held a ridiculous 42-18 minute advantage in time of possession – which you get when you have six drives of ten plays or longer.
So, the formula for Colorado is set: hang onto the ball, put together sustained drives, and wear out the UMass defense. The Minuteman offense had one 77-yard play, but the rest of the day amounted to 43 plays for a grand total of 125 yards.
It won’t be easy next week (it never is for Colorado) against UMass, but then again, it shouldn’t be hard.
–Here is the*associated press*recap of the game, billed as the “Battle of the Bay State”:
Tyler Murphy ran for 118 yards and a touchdown, carrying Boston College to a 30-7 victory over in-state rival Massachusetts on Saturday in the season opener for both schools.
Murphy, a graduate transfer who played nine games for Florida last season before missing the final three with a sprained throwing shoulder, also completed 17 of 24 passes for 173 yards and threw for a TD and an interception.
The game was billed as the “Battle of the Bay State” and played at the home of the New England Patriots, where Massachusetts will play half of its home schedule this season.
Blake Frohnapfel completed 9 of 22 passes for 147 yards for the Minutemen, including a 77-yard scoring toss to Tajae Sharpe.
It was coach Mark Whipple’s first game of his second stint at UMass. He coached the Minutemen from 1998-2003 and won a Division 1-AA title his first season.
The Eagles broke it open with two long drives on their first two possessions of the second half.
Leading 6-0, BC took the ball to start the second half and marched 75 yards in 13 plays, with Myles Willis’ 1-yard touchdown run capping the drive. Two plays before the run, UMass’ defensive back Jackson Porter was flagged for pass interference in the end zone. The Eagles had five different ball carriers combine for 48 yards.
Midway into the third quarter, BC had a 302-0 edge in net rushing.
Murphy’s 1-yard scoring run capped a 10-play, 52-yard drive that made it 20-0. He connected with Josh Bordner, a QB who was converted to receiver this spring, with a 43-yard score on the first play of the fourth.
The Eagles led 6-0 at halftime after field goals from two different kickers. Alex Howell nailed a 44-yarder early in the second quarter and Mike Knoll had a 28-yarder.
Behind Murphy’s nine carries for 92 yards, the Eagles outgained the Minutemen 211-22 on the ground in the opening half.
Neither team had much success through the air in the opening half. BC, which relied on the play of graduated running back Andre Williams — a Heisman Trophy finalist — last season, seemed intent to pound the ball from the start.
The Eagles carried seven times for 51 yards on their opening drive that stalled at UMass’ 29 when Murphy threw an incomplete pass on fourth-and-5.
UMass’ best scoring bid in the first came late when Blake Lewis missed a 47-yard field goal attempt.
BC opens Atlantic Coast Conference play on Friday night when it hosts Pittsburgh. The Minutemen host Colorado on Saturday.
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UMass either is abysmal at running, or else BC's Dline is solid. If any road game was set up for a CU win, it's this one. However, I'm wary of any CU road game, let alone when we cross the Mississippi River….